Saudi treated water reuse capacity up 30% annually

Saudi's advanced treated water reuse capacity is growing by 30% annually (Getty Images)

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Saudi Arabia’s advanced treated water reuse capacity is growing by 30% a year, the Kingdom’s authorities say, adding that it is expected to reach 2.2 million cubic metres per day by 2016, from its current levels of 260,000m³ per day.

However, a new report released by Business Monitor International says this was an optimistic projection that may have a downside risk.

Although cautious about the projection figures, the report did add that the Kingdom’s water and wastewater pipeline network was being upgraded and expanded.

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This will help to improve supply, reduce leakage and reduce the proportion of the population – usually the poorest – who are not connected to piped water supply and are dependent on water supplied by tankers, the report said.

In Jeddah, the National Water Company (NWC) aims to boost water capacity to 1.23million cubic metres daily through up to 30 projects, the report added.

In addition, Saudi Arabia’s water desalination production will continue to rise till 2015, fuelled by greater optimism about prospects for the economy and a much greater willingness by the Saudi authorities to prioritise state spending towards critical infrastructure sectors like water daily newspaper, The Saudi Gazette, reported.

The BMI report added that it saw the volume of water desalinated in the Kingdom rising to 1.206 billion cubic metres in 2011. This was up from previous estimates of 1.165 billion cubic metres.

Earlier this year, Saudi Arabia’s leader, King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, announced a massive $133.3bn spending programme to improve the lives of average Saudis.

While there have been no specific allocations for water projects, BMI anticipates a strong focus on investing state resources into the sector’s critical infrastructure.